MEC Online Reflection

Ok, its that period of time again when we have to do reflections on what we had learn this semester. So first up, Managing E-Commerce module.

So a summary of what we had learn this semester:
- Google Power
- Advantages of e-commerce for businesses and individuals
- Ways company made money through the Internet
- Some issues regarding shopping online (security, privacy)
- Payment methods available (eNets, credit cards)
- Many other topics

E-learning activities are plentiful this semester due to public holidays and events such as Open House. We do stuff like online chatting and posting in discussion forums during e-learning. I think e-learning is NOT a really effective method of learning because its hard to ask questions and clarify matters unlike face-to-face sessions. Some people don't really participate in Online Chats and instead just read comments of other people. It is also difficult to absorb concepts through online chats unlike tutorial sessions where teacher can explain concepts much more clearly.

Not much difficulty in coping with MEC module because lectures are quite effective and tutorial sessions helps enforce what we have learnt. I think MEC has been the easiest and most student-friendly module this semester. It is a more interesting subject compared to modules like ERP.

Finally, thanks to Mr. Steven Lim for being a great guide and tutor to all the students. And to all our tutors who had made lasting impact on our polytechnic journey.

Questions

1. Describe how an organization can benefit from attending one of the courses offered at the Intense School.
2. Explain the two primary lines of security defense and how organizational employees can use the information taught by the Intense School when drafting an information security plan.
3. Determine the differences between the two primary courses offered at the Intense School, “Professional Hacking Boot Camp” and “Social Engineering in two Days.” Explain which course is more important for organizational employees to attend.

Answers

1. An organization can benefit from the courses because they will gain knowledge on how to protect their system from hackers. This is especially useful if the organization is heavily dependent on the smooth operation of their IT system (eg. Banks). With this knowledge gained from the courses, they can create a better security system.
2. The two lines of security defense are people and technology. People – The courses will enlighten the employees how easy it is for hackers to deploy social engineering to gain private information from them. The course can also teach them on the importance of security policies and the steps to ensure that the policies are being observed throughout the organization. Technology – IT professionals from organizations can make use of the information gained from the course to design a better security system. They will also learn to detect vulnerabilities of their current system and prevent hackers from exploiting these vulnerabilities.
3. The main difference is that one addresses the People issue and the other address the Technology of the security defense line. The course “Social Engineering in Two Days” is more important for organizational employees to attend because it would be easiest for hackers to gain access through employees giving away passwords, leaving password lying around, etc. So by attending this course they can protect themselves from being a victim of social engineering.

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Blog for Business

In this post we shall discuss issues like how blogs can be use for businesses, the benefits and drawbacks of blogs, and some real world examples of business blogging.

1. How can blogs be used for business?

A company could use blog for its employees to write about their thoughts and working experiences. They can comment on the projects that they are current doing, how the project can be improve, gives suggestions on how the company can improve its operation and many many more. Managers and team members could view the blogs and learn from each other. The main use of blogging in business is to communicate among colleagues.

2. Benefits and Drawbacks of blogging

As blogs tend to be informal in nature, one may post something that is too personal and not related to the company. Also, if a unhappy employee writes something bad about the company, or launch attacks on some one in the company, this could create problems in the work place and affect the morale of the workers. Also unproductive blogging cause is time wasting. These are examples of drawbacks of blogging in organizations.

The good thing about blogs is that if used responsibly, it can be a useful source of information for everyone in the company. Opinions can be shared, and they can help those shy, quiet, introverts to express their thoughts.

3. Examples of corporate blogging

Bill Higgins
IBM Systems Engineer
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/higgins/index.jsp

An employee of IBM, a technology leader, feels that the corporate blog did not recieve much feedback. Top managements are not blogging.
Source: http://www.backbonemedia.com/blogsurvey/45-IBMcasestudy.htm

Mike Chambers' Weblog
Senior Product Manager
http://weblogs.macromedia.com/mesh/

Mike Chambers is more positive about blogging. They use the blogs at first to communicate among employees but now they use the blog to get more information from customers.
Source:http://www.backbonemedia.com/blogsurvey/47-macromedia-case-study.htm

Personal View on Blogging

Firstly, there is a common misconception of blogs being a personal space for netizens to write their thoughts. While blogging is mainly informal in nature, one cannot afford to write stuff that may cause tensions among netizens, which may lead to flame wars. As blogs are accessible virtually anywhere, they can be read by ANYONE. There is no such thing as a private blog. They aren't private space where you can write anything you like and get away with it. People are hoping that blogs can at least give us the freedom to express ourselves but even this "freedom" of speech is governed by law. Where is the freedom??

Disclaimer:

Welcome to the first Academic blog from me Azhar or just zar. This blog will be use for academic purposes only and MAY not contain any issues not related to my studies. However if you really wanted to know more about zar (the great), you are most welcome to visit my personal blog at http://thezarhouse.blogspot.com. You won't find anything useful there if you want to find out about what i thought about ASP.NET or those kind of stuff.

Ok, first task is to tell a bit about ourselves. I am a student in Ngee Annn Polytechnic doing a course called Business Information Technology. This blog will be used for my modules which require me to blog about what i had learn. My plans after completing my diploma would be getting a part-time job before entering National Service. After that, i MAY further my studies if i have the opportunity and the financial support. Otherwise, i will start carving out my career. Since i am the type of person who "goes with the flow", i cannot really say what job i will get.

Next issue is about the module called MIS or Managing Information System. Hopefully at the end of this module, i will get to learn more about IS in a manager's perspective, concepts of IS in businesses and other stuff.

Ok, thats all for now. Hopefully, this semester will be a good one.